What The Duck?!

Move the peas over to find that Australian freezers have seals, kangaroo penises and the DNA of 'the Chanel of goats.'Featuring:Dr Natalie Warburton, Murdoch University. Dr Jillian Garvey, La Trobe University. Dr Nicola Rivers, Monash University.Dianne Hakof, Hospital Manger Animal Health Department Zoos SAProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer. This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Stream the brand-new series Dr Ann's Secret Lives on ABC iview.

It turns out self-medicating and herbal remedies are not exclusive to humans.From cats eating grass, to elephants making medicinal tea in their throat pouch — the animal world has its own prescriptions.And naturally, there's plenty of digging through poo involved in this scientific research!Featuring:Dr Kevin Feeney, Central Washington University.Professor Michael Huffman, University of Kyoto.Dr Sophia Daoudi-Simison, Newcastle University UK.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Nick Kilvert, Presenter/ Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Mastering: Angela Grant.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Stream the brand-new series Dr Ann's Secret Lives on ABC iview.

Fossils tell us a lot about the past, but are there fossilised farts? (Spoiler, YES!)Look back at great farts of history, and the story of methane.Do birds not fart?And which creature is responsible for the stinkiest?Listen to part one (Does it Fart?!) here.Featuring:Dani Rabaiotti, Author of Does it Fart? and Zoological Society of London.Dr Nick Gales, Former Head of Australian Antarctic Division.Prof Dave Watson, Charles Sturt University.Prof Jeffrey Stillwell, Adjunct Monash UniDr Adam Munn, Biologist.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Jo Khan, Producer.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Stream the brand-new series Dr Ann's Secret Lives on ABC iview.

Fossils tell us a lot about the past, but are there fossilised farts? (Spoiler, YES!)Look back at great farts of history, and the story of methane.Do birds not fart?And which creature is responsible for the stinkiest?Listen to part one (Does it Fart?!) here.Featuring:Dani Rabaiotti, Author of Does it Fart? and Zoological Society of London.Dr Nick Gales, Former Head of Australian Antarctic Division.Prof Dave Watson, Charles Sturt University.Prof Jeffrey Stillwell, Adjunct Monash UniDr Adam Munn, Biologist.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Jo Khan, Producer.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Stream the brand-new series Dr Ann's Secret Lives on ABC iview.

Farts are not just for laughs. There are farts for survival, for communication, and even to attack!But it turns out it's tricky to get scientists to agree on what actually constitutes a fart.Still, from tiny fish, ants, and spiders, to manatees, primates, and blue whales — is it as simple as the bigger the creature, the bigger the fart?Featuring:Dani Rabaiotti, Author of Does it Fart? and Zoological Society of London.Dr Nick Gales, Australian Antarctic Division.Prof. Ben Wilson, Scottish Association for Marine Science.Dr Federica Turco, Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC).Farts:Chimpanzee farts, Kris Sabbi.Hooknose snake coacal pop, Orry Martin.Humpback whale song and fart adjacent sounds, Brian Miller, Australian Antarctic Division.River gas exchange Talaroo Station, Simon Linke.Tasmanian Devil Running Fart, David Hamilton.Farting wombat, Glenn Ross.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Jo Khan, Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editing.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people

It's a seemingly simple question from What the Duck?! listener Skylar: how do scientists determine a new species?Turns out, it's complicated.And it's got Ann Jones impersonating a dog on the internet to try to find out what breed she is, as well as asking, 'what is a species anyway?'.Featuring:Skyla Seltzer, What The Duck?! listener.Beanz and Henry the dog.Link Olson, Curator of Mammals, University of Alaska Museum.Dr Nicola Rivers, Monash University.Professor Paul Hebert, Scientific Director, International Barcode of Life.Dr Leo Joseph, Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO.Tim Low, Biologist and author.Thanks also to Ying Luo for background information.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Hamish Camilleri.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in December 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

The influence of selective breeding by humans has created a doggo for every occasion, but it's not without problematic results.Some breeds have breathing difficulties, hip problems, aggression, or anxiety. There are dogs with ADHD and others with depression.Does our longest-term relationship need couples therapy?Featuring:Dr. Annika Bremhorst, founder of Dogs and Science, and canine scientist at the University of BernProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of MelbourneProfessor Chris Johnson, the University of TasmaniaMichael Worboys, Emeritus Professor at the University of ManchesterWith thanks to Paula Pérez Fraga at Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary 

This is the story of the domesticated animal that feralised itself.Where did dingoes come from and when?Where does a wild dog stop and a dingo begin?How much can genetics really tell us about Australia's only native dog — and how long do you have to live somewhere to be 'native'?Featuring:Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageKelly Ann Blake, Wadawurrung woman, and Jack the DingoProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordProfessor Euan Ritchie, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerJacinta Bowler, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

Are puppy dog eyes really a sign of love, or does Fido just want a lil snack?Can dogs really "speak" by pressing talking buttons, or do they just make great content for TikTok?There's more to canine communication than howls and growls — and a wagging tail could be telling you more than you think.Featuring:Dr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of MelbourneProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityAssociate professor Federico Rossano director of the comparative cognition lab at the University of California San DiegoProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

'Man's best friend' sure sounds better than 'obligatory symbiont', but what are the true dynamics at play?There's no denying the bond people feel and the attachment dogs have for their humans, but if we put that beautiful relationship under scientific scrutiny, does it hold up?Can any dog go 'full Lassie' if you (or Timmy) gets stuck down a well? Will your dog save you?Featuring:Professor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityDr. Mia Cobb, Chaser Innovation Research Fellow (Canine Welfare Science), Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of MelbourneProfessor Chris Johnson, the University of TasmaniaDr. Annika Bremhorst, founder of Dogs and Science, and canine scientist at the University of BernProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

There's designer clothes, but they have nothing on designer dogs!They come in a huge range of shapes and colours and sizes, from the tiny Chihuahua to the Great Dane.In the animal world this much variation usually means different species, but not for dogs — so where did they all come from?And what role did Victorian-era rats play in the development of 'breed standards'?Featuring:Joyce Sullivan, papillon breederWayne Douglas OAM, Afghan Hound breederEsther Joseph, all breeds judgeMichael Worboys emeritus professor the University of ManchesterProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageDr. Elaine Ostrander, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Dr Heidi Parker, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

The relationship between humans and big scary wolves has come a long way to give us tiny fluffy lap dogs with very discerning tastes in expensive food.Whose idea was it? Was it the wolves who wanted the warmth of the fire, or the humans who wanted protection from the other scary carnivores? And take a look at the first archaeological evidence of a beloved family pet preserved with its human family for almost 15,000 years!Featuring:Luc Janssens, Specialist in small animal surgery and archaeologistProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageProfessor Clive Wynne, animal psychologist, Arizona State UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

A new series from What the Duck?! is coming soon.Dr Ann Jones is exploring the connection between humans and dogs and asking how our destinies became intertwined.How did we get pugs from wolves?How did the howling creatures of our nightmares become floppy eared, tail wagging good boys and girls?From the very first archaeological evidence of 'beloved family pet' to the paw-pushing communication buttons on YouTube… this is a look at the true nature of the relationship with man's best friend.

How does a snake climb a pole? It's not like they have a ladder... or arms.It turns out that snakes have some pretty crazy skills when it comes to climbing anything and everything.The Island of Guam had between two and four million brown tree snakes in the 1980s, leading to all sorts of issues for the birds and the environment.Guests:Dr Aaron Collins- Assistant State Director Guam/Western Pacific Theatre at USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesProfessor Kristin Y. Pettersen- Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and System at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Stuart McKenzie - Director/Owner at The Snake Catcher Sunshine CoastProfessor Bruce C. Jayne- Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati.Charlie and Olivia, Board game players.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editing.Additional mastering:  Hamish Camilleri.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast on the 5th of March 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. 

Would you meet a stranger in a park with a pile of snakes? Comedian Craig Quartermaine took the risk in an attempt to overcome his fears.Featuring:Craig Quartermaine, comedian. Sandy Dickinson, Urban Reptiles.Jonathan Wright, announcer's voice. Production:Ann Jones, presenter/producer.Petria Ladgrove, producer.Joel Werner, script editor.Field recording: Dylan Prins.Additional mastering: Angie Grant.This episode was originally broadcast in 2023.This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Yuggera, Turrbal and Kaurna people.

Have you heard of the Kookaburra that conquered Hollywood?Yes- that was a kookaburra at the start of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.But WHY?  Dr Ann Jones is on a mission to find out.Featuring:Ella Loeffler, Film and Bird Watcher. Dr Maggie Watson, Ornithologist, ecologist, fantasy fiction fan. Assoc Professor Cameron Webb,  Mosquito Wrangler, NSW Health and University of Sydney.Professor John W. Fitzpatrick, Emeritus Director, Cornell Lab of Ornithology,James Currie, Sound Recordist / Editor. With extra sounds from Listener: Jesse CotterilMovie Sounds:The Wizard of Oz (1939) Metro-Goldwyn-MayerCharlie's Angels (2000) Columbia PicturesTarzan and the Green Goddess (1938) Burroughs-Tarzan EnterprisesRaiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Paramount PicturesThe Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) Universal Pictures/ Amblin EntertainmentFinding Nemo (2003) Pixar Animation/ Walt Disney PicturesLord of the Rings - Return of the Kings (2003) New Line CinemaMary Poppins (1964) Walt Disney PicturesSkippy (1968) Fauna ProductionsHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) Warner BrothersProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editing.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2022 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people. 

Spiders have gravity-defying ninja skills, they can hear without ears and they work together to gang up on huge prey.Spiders are murder machines!Featuring:Dr Kate Umbers, Western Sydney University.Dr Alfonso Aceves-Aparicio, University Hamburg.Dr Jay Stafstrom, Cornell University.Dr Lena Grinsted, University of Portsmouth.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editor. Additional mastering: Angela Grant. This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people and was first broadcast on the 17th of December 2022. 

A tiny penis, a 12-hour annual fertilisation window, picky females and strawberry bubble bath – these are just a few of the issues that pop up when making a panda cub.Featuring:Chad Crittle, Acting Assistant Curator for Carnivores and Ungulates at Zoos SA.Mr Li Zhang, Consul, Head of Bilateral Section at the Chinese Consulate-General in Adelaide.Dr Meghan Martin Wintle, Director, Conservation Ecologist at PDX Wildlife.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering:  Carey Dell.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast on April the 1st 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people. The pandas, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, are no longer at the Adelaide Zoo. They've been replaced with new pandas, Xing Qiu and Yi Lan. 

There's a whole world of mystery, and quite a bit of maths,  inside the humble sea shell.Forget ancestry searches online, shells can tell you the history of the world!Featuring:Amy Prendergast, University of Melbourne.Jann Vendetti, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Dr Paul Butler, Researcher at the University of Exeter. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Carey DellThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in March 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Jaws (1975) was a massive hit that also created a whole lot of fear, but does anything in the film really stand up to shark science? Do sharks stalk humans? Do they roar? What can they sense? There are so many misconceptions when it comes to sharks that even now, 50 years later, these are impacting shark policies in Australia, and have come to be known as 'the jaws effect.'Featuring:Sophie Maycock, shark obsessive and founder of SharkSpeak. Chris Pepin-Neff – Shark policy expert at the University of Sydney. Jaws (1975) Universal Studios.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in Nov 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Female lab mice have been bred to be passive and breed with ease. But, in the wild they're feisty and even pugnacious.How much of our biological understanding of the world is based on misogyny?Featuring:Lucy Cooke, Zoologist and author of Bitch A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal.Professor Arthur Georges, University of Canberra.Professor Catherine Dulac, Harvard University.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering:  Ann-Marie Debettencor.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in July 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Eels are mysterious and have a fascinating history. People in pre-medieval England used them to pay rent. Early 17th-century maps featured 'eel ships,' and even Sigmund Freud studied their breeding and reproduction habits for a whole summer.Dr Ann Jones gets 'eely' curious about eels in today's What the Duck?!Featuring:Dr. John Wyatt Greenlee, Historian Cornell University. Erin Rose, Budj Bim World Heritage Executive Officer at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.Braydon Saunders, Tour Guide Coordinator at Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism.Tyson Lovett-Murray, Budj Bim World Heritage Ranger at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.Wayne Koster, Research Scientist at the Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victorian Government.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Timothy Jenkins.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in March 2023 and was produced on the land of the Gunditjmara, Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

When it comes to sexual organs, the penis is really ‘out there.'  Name another organ that can change its form AND function in a matter of seconds! There's a lot of variety in the animal kingdom; from spikes and nails to coils and collagen – so, this appendage is worth investigating... close up.  Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.   Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. It was first broadcast in August 2024. Featuring: Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author.  Dr Diane Kelly, Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  Associate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida.  Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US. Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South Australia.   Philippa Holm, HFR Performance Horses, Victoria. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.

Aussie classic Babe turns 30 this year, and its story of the little pig that achieves his dream of being a sheep dog is still as uplifting as the day it premiered. But we can't say "that'll do, pig" when it comes to the science....By now, we know pigs aren't "definitely stupid", but how smart are they? Would an orphaned pig be taken in by a family of dogs? Could a pig really learn to herd sheep? And would Babe really stay so small for so long?Dr Ann Jones sniffs out the porkies Hollywood told us in this poignant pig picture. Featuring:Dr Daryl Sparkes, Senior Lecturer (Media Studies and Production) at the University of Southern QueenslandProfessor Chris Johnson, Ecologist and Conservation Biologist at the University of TasmaniaAssociate Professor Suzanne Held, Behavioural Biology and Animal Welfare at the University of BristolBabe (1995), Universal PicturesProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, additional masteringThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Taungurung, and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

If you have a fear of getting swooped by magpies, mobbed by seagulls or blinded by crows, perhaps Alfred Hitchcock is to blame.His 1963 horror classic The Birds created a generation of ornithophobes, and played on our fears of death by feathered fiend. But how accurate are his creepy corvids? Do birds of a feather flock together exclusively? Can a bird go all 'Here's Johnny' on a locked door? Do birds hold grudges?Dr Ann Jones gets a bird's eye view of Hollywood's avian lies.Featuring:David Stratton, Australian film criticAssociate Professor Lucy Aplin, Australian National UniversityDr Corrie Ackland, clinical psychologist, Sydney Phobia Clinic Further reading:Nearly 3 Billion Birds Gone, Cornell UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, additional masteringThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Taungurung, and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Remember that 1998 film Antz? The one about an ant named Z?The one where the ants had nightmare-inducing human teeth? The one we probably have to blame for the existence of Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie?Considering the movie is all about ants, you'd think it'd get SOMETHING right about ants. But Hollywood has once again LIED TO US.Do male ants have any jobs outside the boudoir? Can ants breathe? Do ants have creepy little human teeth?Ann Jones sets out to be pedANTic and find the facts in the fiction.Featuring:Dr Kirsti Abbott, ant lover and head of science at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern TerritoryFurther reading:Social isolation causes mortality by disrupting energy homeostasis in antsProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, additional masteringThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Taungurung, and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

In 1985, a real American black bear consumed a bunch of cocaine that'd been dropped from a plane into the forest, and died.Nearly 40 years later Hollywood stepped in the rewrite the story. What would happen if the bear survived? Maybe it'd go on a coke-fueled rampage. That's how it works, right?Cocaine Bear (2023) launched a lot of memes, but does it get anything right about bears, or how they'd act under the influence of blow...or did Hollywood lie to us?Would a black bear really eat a drug dealer alive?Do bears do 'snow' *wink* angels?Dr Ann Jones cuts through it all to get some serious answers. Guests:Nate Bowersock, Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation, Chair, The BearWise ProgramDr Ben Kilham, founder Kilham Bear CentreNat Tencic, What the Duck?! producer Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, additional masteringThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Quick! Think of a ‘dinosaur movie'. Chances are Jurassic Park (1993) was first to mind.   Steven Spielberg's genetic nightmare/theme park gone wrong classic is so iconic that it inspired a generation of kids to study palaeontology, and reinvented our modern popular idea of dinosaurs. But does that idea still stack up?   Could you really clone a triceratops from DNA found in an ancient mozzie?  Did dilophosaurus really look like a frill-necked lizard?  And aren't dinosaurs supposed to be feathery?   Ann Jones cracks into how Jurassic Park did (and didn't) lie to us. Featuring: Dr Travis Holland, Senior Lecturer in Communication at Charles Sturt University, host Fossils and Fiction Podcast Tim Richards, palaeontologist and PhD candidate in the ‘Dino Lab' at the University of Queensland, presenter of Dino Dome [link] on ABC Kids Listen Associate Professor Cameron Webb, Mosquito Expert, NSW Health Pathology & University of Sydney This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

When you really think about it, sex to make babies is WEIRD! You take an outie that has to get stuck inside an innie that links into a production line of eggs to assemble a perfect tiny being. It's so damn complicated!So why does it work like that?Join us at What the Duck for the first episode of a series where we figure out how living things went from splitting ourselves in half to double the population, to periodically feeling compelled to copulate in such a vigorous, sometimes highly embarrassing, manner.Earth - this is your sexual history!Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended. This is a summer repeat of Episode One -  please find the rest of the "Sex is Weird" series here.Featuring:Emeritus Professor David Siveter, University of Leicester, UK.Assistant Professor Emily Mitchell, University of Cambridge, UK and curator of non-insect invertebrates, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, UK.Dr Marissa Betts, geologist and palaeontologist at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia. Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and author.Associate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, US. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano and Russell Stapleton.Thanks also to Will Ockenden, Belinda Smith, Corey Hague and Joel Werner. If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in September 2024 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Could a legless lizard be 'minimalist of the year' for famous podcaster T. K. Coleman?Ann Jones leads an unlikely gang of animal experts on a tidy dance through the philosophy of minimalism. There are moths without mouths, flies without wings, and a worm-lizard that will even declutter its own tail. Move over Marie Kondo, Minimalist Mother Nature is in town. Featuring:T. K. Coleman, Co-host of the Minimalists Podcast.Dr. Bryan Lessard, aka Bry the Fly Guy, entomologist and author of 'Eyes on Flies'.Dr. George Binns,  Entomologist, Macquarie University.Dr. David Wong, Ecologist.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Russell Stapleton.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in March 2024 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) is a tingly sensation that can bring relaxation, and it's spawned a growing industry of videos online of whispering, tapping, mouth noises and soft speaking. But, if you wanted quiet, intimate sounds, well, Nature does it so. much. better. Ann Jones goes on an ASMR journey with vibrating caterpillars, whispering monkeys and birds who want to keep secrets. Featuring:Dr Giulia Poerio, University of Sussex.Thanh Sagris, ASMR artist, Melbourne.Associate Professor Rachel Morrison, University of North Carolina at Pembroke.Associate Professor Rindy Anderson, Florida Atlantic University.Associate Professor Mandy Ridley, University of Western Australia.Professor Jayne Yack, Carleton University.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Russell Stapleton.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in Feb 2024 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Imagine you've just been cancelled for a controversial opinion about Taylor Swift's musical output, and you have to go to ground.You can act like the Olsen twins, and hide behind big glasses and a big coat.Or you could take a lesson from nature and blend in, like a proverbial spotty quoll into the bush.The animal kingdom has a lot to teach us about camouflage and animal markings.Featuring:Dr Belinda Wilson, The Australian National University.Associate Professor Tanya Latty, University of Sydney.Dr Quentin Fogg, University of Melbourne.Dr Kaia Tombak, Purdue University. Professor Marc Holderied, Bristol University.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella Tropiano.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in Feb 2024 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Right now, you're probably sitting on one of the most unique things about humans. One thing that separates us from the apes, from the birds, from EVERYTHING on earth. The thing that allows us to walk upright, on two legs.We have big butts and I cannot lie,This sort of exceptionalism doesn't deny,That when a bird walks in with a little bit of hasteAnd drumsticks in your face, you have to admit that bipedalism ISN'T what's interesting.It's actually our peachy butts.Featuring:Professor Daniel Lieberman, Harvard University, US.Professor Jo Setchell, Durham University, UK. Dr Peter Bishop, Harvard University, US.Lauren Thornton, University of Sunshine Coast.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Russell Stapleton.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in Feb 2024 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

How many species live around your house?In the COVID lockdown of 2020, three housemates decided to count.They thought there'd only be a handful, but the number kept rising and rising.Could their simple suburban Queenslander house be the next candidate for a new national park?Featuring:Dr Matt Holden, Mathematician, University of Queensland.Dr Andrew Rogers, Ecologist, University of Melbourne.Dr Russell Yong, Taxonomist. Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Nathan Turnbull.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in Feb 2024 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is a Christmas classic... but how much do we really know about reindeer? In the last instalment of "Hollywood lied to us" for 2024, Ann Jones fact-checks the festive fairytale for biological accuracy.What would it take for a reindeer to fly? What are their noses really like? Would a glowing nose even make a decent fog light??Featuring:Belinda Smith, ABC Science Online reporterTim Horstkotte, Staff scientist at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå UniversityProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, additional masteringThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

The Lion King (1994), aka Hamlet with Cats, is an iconic family classic. But would The Lion King's portrayal of a pride make biologists proud?Ann Jones presents “Hollywood lied to us” - a What The Duck?! podcast that takes your favourite movies and puts them under the microscope to work out what would happen in the real world and what's just Hollywood magic.Would Simba really end up with Nala?Would the hyena henchmen really fall in line for a lion?They're the big questions and Ann Jones has all the answers."Featuring:Amanda Finn, The Lion King super fan,  Theatre, travel, and lifestyle journalist.Dr Neil Jordan, Conservation Scientist in the Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of New South Wales and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, and researcher with Botswana Predator Conservation.The Lion King, 1994, Disney Studios.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

The movie is fictional but Groundhog Day (asking a groundhog for a long-term weather report)  IS A REAL THING!But wait, what even ARE groundhogs? AND do they have any qualifications in meteorology?Ann Jones is examining the biological accuracy of classic movies with the help of scientists and fans in the series "Hollywood Lied to Us."Featuring:Link Olson, Curator of Mammals, University of Alaska Museum.Dr Adam Daniel, Western Sydney University. Associate Professor Mike Rennie, Lakehead University.Groundhog Day by Columbia Pictures Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Yes, the Little Mermaid is an animated movie, but if it were real, where would this mermaid paradise be? Is it plausible that Ursula the Octo-woman would have henchmen in the form of eels? Ann Jones is examining the biological accuracy with the help of scientists and fans  of classic movies in the series "Hollywood Lied to Us."Featuring:Flo Rama- The Little Mermaid super fan. Professor Peter Godfrey-Smith, Sydney University. The Little Mermaid, Disney Studios.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Jaws (1975) was a massive hit that also created a whole lot of fear, but does anything in the film really stand up to shark science? Do sharks stalk humans? Do they roar? What can they sense? There are so many misconceptions when it comes to sharks that even now, 50 years later, these are impacting shark policies in Australia, and have come to be known as 'the jaws effect.'Featuring:Sophie Maycock, shark obsessive and founder of SharkSpeak. Chris Pepin-Neff – Shark policy expert at the University of Sydney. Jaws (1975) Universal Studios.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.

Did you know that pigeons make milk? The pigeon gets a bad rap, but it is actually an incredible bird with a rich history.It is related to the dodo and even played a role in the French Revolution!Surely this bird deserves some recognition?Featuring:Rosemary Mosco, Science writer and author of 'The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching'.Nathan Finger, Host of 'Bird of the Week' podcast Dr Robin Leppitt, Ornithologist.April Broadbent, Pigeon Rehabber.Aaron and Aria, Pigeon Fanciers.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering:  Hamish Camilleri.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in Dec 2023 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

Are you high, or is that a sheep glowing?Yep- sheep glow, but that's not all... when it comes to glowing the list of animals includes the platypus, dolphin teeth, bilby ears and Tasmanian Devil feet. Featuring:Linda Reinhold, Zoologist at James Cook University.Professor Simon Lewis, Curtin University. Dr. Kenny Travouillon, Western Australian Museum. Caitlin Grieve, Hillend Dorsets.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script editing.Additional mastering:  Simon Branthwaite.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in October 2023 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

There's a statue of an ostrich wearing a saddle in Meningie, South Australia.The large bird statue is dedicated to the legend of "John Francis Peggotty", the Birdman of the Coorong. He loved gold, robbed stagecoaches, and used an ostrich as a getaway car. OR DID HE?! Featuring:Denice Mason, teacher and Meningie resident.Associate Professor Rohan Clarke, Monash University and co-author of the Australian Bird Guide.Jacob Fiebig, Meningie resident and composer of "The ballad of John Peggotty". Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Joel Werner, Script Editor. Additional mastering: Angie Grant.This episode of What the Duck?! was first broadcast in Feb 2022 and is produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna people.If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.